On Thursday, April 21st more than 25 employers, community colleges, and community resource organizations gathered in the Springdale Job Corps Center’s gymnasium for the 3rd Trade Expo. The biannual event gives students from Springdale and PIVOT an opportunity to talk to employers, get feedback on resumes, and practice their presentation skills. In addition to the invited guests, each trade has a table to show off what they’re learning during training.

“There’s a lot of pride in showing off what they’re learning,” said Office Administration instructor Micah Wiese. “My students set up a monitor that demonstrated the website they’re learning to build with quotes from students discussing what they’re getting out of the classes.”

Employment Specialists at PIVOT and Springdale invited work-based learning partners and other employment connections including WorkSource. Students were encouraged to bring their resumes for review. In addition, all students had a list of questions they could ask the representatives in order to learn more about what they’re looking for in employees and what skills they can develop to be more employable at the company.

Portland Community College and Mount Hood Community College both had tables at the Trade Expo and students discussed with them what programs the schools offered and what it was like being in college.

“It was good to talk to recruiters and learn about what I can do to get hired,” one student shared on their feedback form. “There were a lot of interesting companies there.”

Springdale and PIVOT organize one Trade Expo in winter/spring and a second in the fall. If you’re interested in learning more about the Trade Expo, contact Business & Community Liaison Anna Snyder at Snyder.anna@jobcorps.org.